Revelation 15

Last week we finished chapter 14 and the two possible interpretations of the harvest. What we read in chapter 15 lends more toward the first — that the first harvest, reaped by Jesus, is the harvest of believers.¶

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

Revelation 15:1 (ESV)¶

We are told this nightmare in history is almost over — the last bit of God's wrath, the last seven plagues. John is being encouraged that we are almost to the end. It made me think of Jesus on the cross, enduring the wrath for our sin — how it must have felt like an eternity, how he must have longed for its end, yet held on until all was accomplished. And how sad that those enduring God's wrath on earth in this time do not have to be — it had already been poured out on a Savior who took it for them.¶

The sea of glass, and the song¶

And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb...

Revelation 15:2-3 (ESV)¶

We see again the sea of glass from chapter 4, but now mingled with fire, because fire is needed for consecration and offerings. Those who had conquered the beast stand there — whether martyred (as Revelation tells us many were) or gathered, it doesn't matter; they are here, standing before God with harps. Interestingly, for the rest of Revelation, while the bowls are poured out, there are no more references to these people — just as after chapter 4 there is no more reference to the church.¶

The consecration of the heavenly temple¶

and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

Revelation 15:8 (ESV)¶

This is a ceremony — the consecration of God's temple in heaven, very similar to the consecration of Solomon's temple. There, the priests and Levitical singers stood with cymbals, harps, and trumpets, and "the house of the LORD was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister" (2 Chronicles 5:10-14); then fire came down and consumed the offering (2 Chronicles 7:1-9). We (priests, 1 Peter 2:9) are given harps and sing the song of Moses (the old covenant) and the Lamb (the new) — we have both covenants in Christ. Solomon's dedication took seven days; God has seven bowls of wrath, the last plagues. In the Old Testament, bowls were used to sprinkle blood to sanctify the temple (Leviticus 16:14-15) — but these bowls, which could have been sprinkled with the blood of Christ and atoned for, are now poured out on the world as wrath. John is witnessing the eternal temple of God being consecrated in heaven. Solomon consecrated a temporary, earthly dwelling that would be destroyed; we will be at the consecration of the eternal dwelling of God.¶